InalmosteverypartofEurope,peasantsbegantorebelagainstthetaxesimposedbytheChurch.While
thecommonfolkresentedtheextortionsofchurchmen,princesfoundtheirinterferenceintheworkofthe
stateirritating.Theywerepleasedwhenthehumanistspointedoutthattheclergy’sclaimtojudicialand
fiscal powers originated froma document called the ‘Donation of Constantine’ supposedtohave been
issuedbyConstantine,thefirstChristianRomanEmperor.Humanistscholarswereabletopointoutthat
thiswasnotgenuine,andhadbeenforgedlater.
In 1517, a young German monk called Martin Luther (1483-1546) launched a campaign against the
CatholicChurchandarguedthatapersondidnotneedprieststoestablishcontactwithGod.Heaskedhis
followerstohavecompletefaithinGod,forfaithalonecouldguidethemtotherightlifeandentryinto
heaven. This movement – called the Protestant Reformation – led to the churches in Germany and
Switzerland breakingtheirconnection with the Pope and the CatholicChurch. In Switzerland, Luther’s
ideaswerepopularisedbyUlrichZwingli(1484-1531)andlaterbyJeanCalvin(1509-64).Backedby
merchants,thereformershadgreaterpopularappealintowns,whileinruralareastheCatholicChurch
managedtoretainitsinfluence.OtherGermanreformers,liketheAnabaptists,wereevenmoreradical:
theyblendedtheideaofsalvationwiththeendofallformsofsocialoppression.TheysaidthatsinceGod
had createdall people as equal, theywere notexpectedtopay taxes and had the right to choose their
priests.Thisappealedtopeasantsoppressedbyfeudalism.
TheNewTestamentisthesectionoftheBibledealingwiththelifeandteachingsofChristandhis
earlyfollowers.
WilliamTyndale(1494-1536),anEnglishLutheranwhotranslatedtheBibleintoEnglishin1506,defendedProtestantismthus:
‘Inthistheybeallagreed,to driveyoufromtheknowledge ofthescripture,and thatyeshallnothavethetextthereofinthemother-
tongue,andtokeeptheworldstillindarkness,totheintenttheymightsitintheconsciencesofthepeople,throughvainsuperstitionand
falsedoctrine,tosatisfytheirproudambition,andinsatiablecovetousness,andtoexalttheirownhonourabovekingandemperor,yea,and
aboveGodhimself...WhichthingonlymovedmetotranslatetheNewTestament.BecauseIhadperceivedbyexperience,howthatit
wasimpossibletoestablishthelay-peopleinanytruth,exceptthescripturewereplainlylaidbeforetheireyesintheirmother-tongue,that
theymightseetheprocess,order,andmeaningofthetext.‘
Luther did not support radicalism. He called upon German rulers to suppress the peasants’ rebellion,
whichtheydidin1525.Butradicalismsurvived,andmergedwiththeresistanceofProtestantsinFrance,
who,persecuted bythe Catholicrulers, startedclaimingthe rightofapeopletoremovean oppressive
rulerandtochoosesomeoneoftheirownliking.Eventually,inFrance,asinmanyotherpartsofEurope,